Avalanche Farm Report: Feb. 4

A weekly recap of prospects in the Colorado Avalanche system

Avalanche Farm Report: Feb. 4A weekly recap of prospects on the Avs\' system

Lake Erie Monsters

The Monsters were due for a win.

After an eight-game winless streak, Lake Erie used a 3-2 shootout win over Utica to right the ship last Tuesday night.

Lake Erie won the game on shootout goals from Joey Hishon and Colin Smith. Calvin Pickard stopped all four shots he faced in the shootout and stopped 28 of 30 shots through overtime.

The Monsters' night started on a Mark Olver goal with an assist from Andrew Agozzino. After falling behind before the first intermission Lake Erie tied the game on a goal from Guillaume Desbiens. It was Desbiens' fifth goal of the season. Smith and Stefan Elliott were credited with assists on the tying tally.

On Friday night the Monsters were back in action against the Charlotte Checkers. Pickard continued his hot hand from Wednesday night as he pitched a shutout in a 1-0 victory. He stopped all 33 shots he faced and posted his seventh career shutout for the Monsters.

The Monsters' lone goal in the win came late in the first period on a Paul Carey snap shot. Hishon and Brad Malone picked up assists on the game-winner.

Charlotte got its revenge Saturday night with a 5-3 win. The Checkers scored early and opened up a 3-0 lead midway through the second period. Lake Erie started to chip away when Mitchell Heard put home a rebound goal that came off a shot by Desbiens. Heard pulled the Monsters to within one with another goal late in the second, and Desbiens and Mike Sgarbossa assisted.

The Monsters tied the game when Olver scored a breakaway goal, beating Checkers' goalie Cam Ward. Sgarbossa picked up his third assist of the night while Karl Stollery also helped.

Pickard was again in net for the Monsters, and he stopped 20 of 25 shots, moving his season record to 11-12-3.

Lake Erie is now 19-21-4 and 12th in the American Hockey League's Western Conference.

The Cutthroats played three games last week, finishing 1-2. Denver opened with a 4-3 overtime loss in Wichita on Tuesday but bounced back with a win Friday against the Missouri Mavericks. Kent Patterson was in net Friday for the 3-2 victory, and he stopped 29 of 31 shots. He was back in net on Saturday and stopped 16 shots in a 4-1 loss to Tulsa.

Kieran Millan (Wheeling Nailers): Millan did not play in any of Wheeling's three games last week,

OHL

Chris Bigras (Owen Sound Attack): Bigras and the Attack opened their weekend play Friday with a 4-3 loss to Erie. On Saturday they won 2-1 in a rematch with Erie, and Bigras had an assist in each matchup.

Joseph Blandisi (Barrie Colts): Blandisi and the Colts lost 7-5 to Sudbury on Thursday. They bounced back Friday in a 6-4 win over Kitchener with Blandisi tallying a goal and an assist. He picked up another assist in Saturday’s 5-4 loss to London.

Michael Clarke (Peterborough Petes): Clarke had a goal and an assist in the Petes' 6-0 victory over Ottawa on Friday night.

Spencer Martin (Mississauga Steelheads): Martin finished 2-0 last week, with the Steelheads losing their only game in which Martin was not in net. Martin stopped 38 shots in Mississauga's 2-1 win Friday against Niagara. The Steelheads then defeated Sarnia 7-3 on Saturday, and Martin stopped 21 of 24 shots.

Martin was not in net Sunday, and the Steelheads were upended 3-0 by Oshawa.

WHL

Troy Bourke (Prince George Cougars): Bourke and the Cougars won all three of their games last week. On Wednesday they defeated Saskatoon 10-6. Bourke had a goal and an assist in the big win. On Friday they were back in action and took home a 2-1 victory over Moose Jaw. Bourke then had two goals and an assist in Saturday’s 6-2 win over Swift Current.

Mason Geertsen (Vancouver Giants): Geertsen and the Giants went 2-1 this past week, beginning Wednesday with a 5-3 win against Kamloops. Geertsen had an assist in the win. On Friday they were back in action and won 5-4 versus Victoria. In a rematch with the Royals on Saturday the Giants were defeated 3-2 with Geertsen picking up another assist.

NCAA

Will Butcher (University of Denver): The Pioneers and Butcher were not in action last week, and they return Friday at St. Cloud State.

Nate Condon (University of Minnesota): Condon and the Gophers split their weekend series with Michigan State. The Gophers lost in a shootout on Friday after a 2-2 tie through overtime. On Saturday Minnesota was able to bounce back with a 1-0 win.

Luke Moffatt (University of Michigan): Moffatt and the Wolverines swept their weekend series versus Wisconsin, which began with a 3-1 victory Friday night. On Saturday Moffatt was the hero, tying the game late in the third and then scoring the lone goal in the shootout, giving the Wolverines the victory.

Ben Storm (St. Cloud State): Storm and St. Cloud State split their road series at Nebraska Omaha last weekend, which began with a 5-3 win Friday. In Saturday’s rematch the Huskies fell 8-6.

Gus Young (Yale University): Young and the Bulldogs opened their weekend with a 3-2 loss to Cornell on Friday night. They picked up a win on Saturday by defeating Colgate 4-1. Young was able to tally goals in both of last week's games.

Wilhelm Westlund (Farjestads BK): Westlund returned to the SHL and played two games last week for Farjestads BK. Farjestads won 4-0 against Leksands IF on Friday but lost 5-3 Saturday to HV71. Westlund has 10 assists in 19 games this season with Farjestads' J20 team.